Tobacco firms misled inquiry says US expert

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

TOBACCO WHISTLEBLOWER: Jeffrey Wigand.

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An American who blew the whistle on tobacco giants says New Zealand's cigarette companies have deliberately misled a select committee inquiry.

Jeffrey Wigand, who was portrayed by Russell Crowe in the 1999 film The Insider, has travelled here to speak today at a Maori affairs select committee inquiry into the tobacco industry.

The former head of research at tobacco company Brown & Williamson, Dr Wigand was subjected to a smear campaign and his family was threatened when he decided to speak out in 1994 about the industry's research and marketing tactics.

Since then, he has been a linchpin in anti-tobacco court cases in the United States and has given advice to governments around the world on smoke-free legislation.

His presentation today follows oral submissions from tobacco companies, including British American Tobacco, which he said were "misrepresentations of facts".

"What [MPs] have received from the testimony already is misleading."

Among that evidence were claims by tobacco companies that they had no sales or marketing strategy.

"That's inconceivable," Dr Wigand said.

One company had falsely claimed that sugar was the only additive in its cigarettes, he said.

Tobacco companies should also stop trying to argue that cigarettes were just another consumer product. "I'm so tired of hearing that crap."

He said the select committee should consider asking the tobacco companies back, this time to give evidence under oath.

Select committee submitters are obliged by Parliament to tell the truth, but their evidence is not under oath unless they are specifically asked to swear an oath or affirmation at the beginning of their presentation – something that rarely happens.

If they then mislead the committee, they can be prosecuted for perjury.

Today's presentation was a chance for the select committee to pick his brain, Dr Wigand said. "I want them to get the benefit of my knowledge in their decision-making process." He will advocate plain packaging – apart from health warnings – and keeping cigarettes under shop counters.

- © Fairfax NZ News